Bully(?) for Broadband;
Out of the Red for Retail

By

Tim Hanrahan and

Jason Fry The Wall Street Journal Online

Updated May 19, 2003 1:07 p.m. ET

New broadband numbers are in, and they give some mixed signals.

First, the good news. Last week, Leichtman Research Group put out numbers showing the first quarter was the fastest ever for broadband sign-ups, with 1.9 million added, putting the total at about 19 million. Earlier this month, phone giant Verizon Communications Inc. cut rates on its high-speed plans, which steps up price competition and could accelerate the pace of broadband sign-ups. By the end of the year, more than 20 million U.S. households, or around...